Distinguished members of the USAR and the MEDEVAC teams,

Dear friends,

-It is a privilege for me to host you all here at the Yunus Emre Institute.

-We have wished to invite all personnel participated in your operations, but unfortunately, we could not do so due to the space constraints. Please give our regards to all of you team members.

-We wanted to organize this gathering in order to thank you once again and express our gratitude for your invaluable work and efforts in the immediate aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye.

-You have all witnessed the magnitude of the loss, destruction and suffering caused by this disaster.

-Complete towns, big parts of cities, essential buildings such as hospitals and infrastructure have been destroyed in a matter of a couple of minutes.

-Nearly 50 thousand people have lost their lives. More than 100 thousand were injured. Almost 13 million people in Türkiye have been affected.

-Hundreds of thousands have become homeless in a single day.

- As you have seen personally, access to food, shelter, medicine and sanitation have been seriously compromised.

-Indeed, Türkiye has not experienced a disaster with such a magnitude in the history of the Republic’s 100 years, or since 1939.

-From the outset on 6 February, we have undertaken a massive search and rescue operation, together with the precious contributions of the family of nations, which have heeded to our call for help.

-May I say that the Netherlands was one of the first countries to respond to that call.

-Together with your much-appreciated presence on the ground, the invaluable work conducted by the Dutch C-130 MEDEVAC aircraft, and the efforts and contributions of Dutch volunteers, NGOs, doctors, entrepreneurs and citizens of the Netherlands alike have all been instrumental and exemplary in the relief efforts.

-Together with the mobilization of the Turkish-Dutch community and Dutch companies, institutions and official organizations, a great number of trucks and cargo airplanes were dispatched to the disaster zone filled with humanitarian aid, clothing, blankets, tents, heaters and generators from the Netherlands.

-From the very top Dutch officials to the ordinary citizens, the Netherlands have given much needed support to us in this difficult time.

-I would like to emphasize that around 120 million Euros have been donated through the Giro555 aid program in a matter of days.

-The helping hand, the generosity and the solidarity extended to Türkiye from the Netherlands will never not be forgotten.

Dear friends,

-Your search and rescue efforts have resulted in you saving numerous lives from under the rubble. When you save a life, you save the entire world. Likewise, MEDEVAC carried more than 80 people.

-That is why, your contributions have been especially important, even if you had brought out a single person or rushed to a hospital alive from under the rubble.

-We are grateful to all of you and your expert sniffer companions.

-The solidarity shown by the Netherlands in the face of this catastrophic disaster is yet another testimony to underscore the fact that when we are united in thoughts and deeds there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome.

-It is true that we have suffered greatly. But we will get up stronger.

-Thank you once again for all your efforts, and thank you for accepting our invitation to attend this gathering.